Category: News

Another wonderful Children’s Event, one of the best things we do at Shine and Inspire!

119 children and their families were our guests for a day of fun, music, games, crafting, lunch, hot chocolate station, haircuts and a family portrait.  Thanks to all the wonderful sponsors (see shineandinspire.org for the list), each child went home with a coat, hat, gloves, underwear, socks, shoes, clothing and something from their holiday wish list. So many other people to thank, it takes a village:

• The amazing Shine & Inspire board who made it all happen – Donna Powell, Karen McLaughlin, Sharon Evanko, Mary Jane Rossi, Nawaz Merchant and Carol Stolow!
• The fantastic volunteers, both new and those who keep coming back we appreciate you! We had a record number of young people this event, so proud to see a sense of helping the community start in our youth!
• Our volunteers who helped with the children’s shopping Karen Jacko, Linda Petrocelli, Margaret Conrad, Robin Schoonmaker, Pat Sedmak, Suzanne Beckman, Rosanne Pickell, Diane Coleman, Paula Matsiak, Fay Sagotsky, Blanche Forker, Sweta Patel, Karen McLaughlin and Donna Powell!
• The Civil Air Patrol in their uniform finest who had air simulator games and air patrol crafts – these young people are such an inspiration to the children!
• Photographer Doe’Rain Deane who took family portraits that were just beautiful!
• Photographer Isabela Ertel who took pictures of the event, so wonderful!
• Our amazing stylist Carlee Mooney who gave haircuts and added hair tinsel  (she was busy)!
• Maureen from Dancemaur Company who kept the music, dancing and games going!
• Book Smiles for all the wonderful books!
• New Jersey Weddings and Events for all the wonderful food – Antonio, Beth, Joann and team who are the best!!!
• The amazing Kari who made balloon characters for the children while up on stilts!
• Lala & Mimi’s Pajama Project that gave pajamas to every child!
• Central Paint and KK Sweets who donated the cookies (and supplies) for our cookie decorating craft table, and cupcakes for dessert!
• VIP Very Important Parties who donated the festive balloon arch!
• Emily and Justine, our princess volunteers whom the children just loved!
• Connor and his dad from the Hamilton A’s who helped unload and setup the event!
• Our knitting and crocheting volunteers who made hats and blankets for the children!

Last month we held another Conversation, Connection and Cuisine fundraiser at Blend Bar & Bistro that was just Spookalicious! We got into the Halloween excitement with prize for best costume – Strawberry Shortcake! Prizes too! Our fundraisers help us to stock our “Shine and Inspire Closets” in schools in Mercer County, and our upcoming Children’s Event!

Congratulations to Danielle Ingeri, owner of Outside the Lines Art Studio!

Danielle won the 24-25 Klockner Elementary’s Spirit of the Community Award, which honors stakeholders who make outstanding contributions to the school. This includes leading or supporting projects, inspiring others through ongoing commitment, and positively impacting students, staff, and families to promote academic success, growth, and community connection.

Shine and Inspire is so grateful that she is one of our Community Partners, also graciously hosts our breakfast meetings and is one of our Closet Collection Sites!

Our gratitude to CareOne at Hamilton Assisted Living for choosing Shine and Inspire for their Summer of Sharing. They held numerous fundraising events — a bake sale, Tricky Tray, Plant Sale (with beautiful pots hand painted by their residents) and Burgers & Brew event. Because of their hard work, they made a sizable donation to Shine and Inspire that will be used to support our community. THEY ARE NOW A “SHINE AND INSPIRE CLOSET” COLLECTION LOCATION TOO!

What a special place – you can feel the joy from the staff and residents. Thank you to Holly O’Brien and the CareOne team and residents!

Another wonderful Children’s Event, one of the best things we do at Shine and Inspire!

76 children and their families were our guests for a day of fun, music, games, crafting, lunch, ice cream and haircuts. They went home with a bag filled with shoes, pajamas, books, lunch boxes, beach towels, reusable water bottles, activity books and fun toys and games. So many people to thank:

• The amazing Shine & Inspire board who made it all happen – Donna Powell, Mary Jane Rossi, Sharon Evanko, Nawaz Merchant, Carol Stolow and Karen McLaughlin!
• The people and organizations who donated items for the children’s bags, it will keep them smiling and busy over the Summer!
• The fantastic volunteers, both new and those who keep coming back we appreciate you! We love how more and more young people join us each event – we love to see a sense of helping the community start with our youth!
• The Civil Air Patrol had air simulator games and air patrol crafts – the children were in awe of them in their uniforms (we were too, such impressive young people)!
• Our amazing stylists Victoria and Nicole who cut children’s hair all day! When we asked one child what his favorite part of the day was, he said it was his cool hair cut!
• Penny and Ken Bedrick who kept the music, dancing and games going!
• Book Smiles for all the wonderful books!
• New Jersey Weddings and Events for all the wonderful food and Beth and Joann and team who are the best!!! Our thanks to Antonio from Blend Bar & Bistro for donating ice cream!
• The amazing Kari who made balloon characters for the children while up on stilts!
• Lala & Mimi’s Pajama Project that gave pajamas to every child!
• Alexis, our Belle princess volunteer whom the children just loved!
• While our volunteers from the Hamilton A’s organization have graduated high school, Dennis and his son AJ came back to help set up. We were so grateful, there is so much to do in a short period of time!
• Caesar’s Bagels & Deli who donated bagels for each family to take home!
• Eat Gud bakery who donated a delicious, “summer fun” cake!

Donna Powell and Karen McLaughlin representing Shine and Inspire at the Robbinsville Hamilton Rotary Club Nonprofit Summit. Was so inspiring to be among so many wonderful nonprofit organizations helping our community – it takes a village!

What a fun “Galantine’s” night unleashing our creative selves at Outside the Lines Art Studio. We had an evening of conversation, connection and ceramics while helping Shine and Inspire help our community. Our thanks to Danielle Ingeri at Outside the Lines for sponsoring this fundraiser, and to Daphne’s Catering for the delicious eats!

Thank you so much to Caruso Physical Therapy and Nutrition in Allentown for their wonderful donation of feminine products for the Shine and Inspire Closets!

Many thanks to Denise Graham Daniels and the United Way for their donation of hygiene kits for those in need!

Another wonderful Children’s Event, one of the best things we do at Shine and Inspire!

96 children and their families were our guests for a day of fun, music, crafting, games, lunch and hot chocolate station, haircuts and family portrait. They went home with winter clothing for the cold months ahead, a present from their wish list, pajamas, books and a homemade blanket. Each family went home with a bag filled with hygiene and household items to help stretch their budgets. So many people to thank:

• The amazing Shine & Inspire board who made it all happen – Donna Powell, Mary Jane Rossi, Sharon Evanko, Nawaz Merchant, Carol Stolow, Karen McLaughlin and Patrick Jones.
• People and businesses who donated their money and time by sponsoring, donating and shopping for the children with a special shout out to super shoppers Karen Jacko, Margaret Conrad, Karen McLaughlin, Renee Hogan and Ann Marie Potts who shopped for so many of the children!
• Bristol Myers Squibb who sponsored 8 children for the event!
• Pam Trapp, Mary Theresa Weil and fellow realtors at Coldwell Banker Princeton for also sponsoring several of the children!
• The fantastic volunteers, both new and those who keep coming back we appreciate you!
• The Civil Air Patrol who did a drone demonstration and had air simulator games and cardboard paper plane tables!
• Our amazing stylists Carlee and Haley who cut children’s hair all day!
• Jenny who kept the games and the dancing going all afternoon!
• Doe’Rain Deane, the wonderful photographer who took family portraits (and is always there to help us)!
• Book Smiles for all the wonderful books!
• New Jersey Weddings and Events for all the wonderful food and Beth and Joann and team who are the best!!!
• The amazing Kari who made balloon characters for the children while up on stilts!
• Lala & Mimi’s Pajama Project that gave pajamas to every child!
• Project Linus who donated handmade blankets for the children!
• Rebecca Zegas, our Belle and Snow White volunteers!
• The young men from the Hamilton A’s baseball organization for helping to unload everything (there was a lot!) and set up the hall!